Editing Jerry Lewis (section)

==Early life==
Jerry Lewis was born Joseph Levitch on March 16, 1926, in [[Newark, New Jersey]], to a Jewish family.<ref name="heritage1"/><ref name="heritage2"/> His parents were Daniel "Danny" Levitch (1902–1980), a [[master of ceremonies]] and [[vaudevillian]] who performed under the stage name Danny Lewis, whose parents immigrated to the United States from the [[Russian Empire]] to New York, and Rachael "Rae" Levitch (née Brodsky; 1904–1982), a [[WOR (AM)|WOR]] radio pianist and Danny's music director, from [[Warsaw]].<ref name="JLIP">Sources:
*{{cite book|title=Jerry Lewis: In Person|first1=Jerry|last1=Lewis|first2=Herb|last2=Gluck|location=New York|publisher=[[Atheneum Books|Atheneum]]|year=1982|isbn=978-0-689-11290-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/jerrylewisinpers00lewi}}
*{{cite AV media|title=Jerry Lewis ... The Last American Clown|quote=90-minute documentary, 1996, narrated by Alan King}}</ref><ref name="A Love Story">{{cite web|title=Jerry Lewis on Dean Martin: 'A Love Story'|url=https://www.npr.org/2005/10/25/4973590/jerry-lewis-on-dean-martin-a-love-story|date=October 25, 2005|work=[[National Public Radio|NPR]]|access-date=June 16, 2009|archive-date=June 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630205702/https://www.npr.org/2005/10/25/4973590/jerry-lewis-on-dean-martin-a-love-story|url-status=live}} (online excerpt from book, with link to {{cite interview|title=Interview|work=[[Fresh Air]]|subject=Jerry Lewis |interviewer=[[Terry Gross]]}}</ref><ref>Sources:
*{{cite encyclopedia |url= https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/714683/Jerry-Lewis |title= Jerry Lewis |encyclopedia= Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date= June 26, 2010 |archive-date= February 13, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100213101229/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/714683/Jerry-Lewis |url-status= live }}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jerry-Lewis|title=Jerry Lewis Biography|publisher=Future now films|access-date=January 2, 2017|archive-date=June 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619140124/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jerry-Lewis|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/6/Jerry-Lewis.html|title=Jerry Lewis Film Reference bio|publisher=Filmreference.com|access-date=October 23, 2011|archive-date=June 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616192929/http://www.filmreference.com/film/6/Jerry-Lewis.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name= "auto">[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K45B-Q2Y United States Census, 1940", database with images, ''FamilySearch'' (March 15, 2018)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404085229/https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K45B-Q2Y |date=April 4, 2023 }}, Rae Lewis in household of Daniel Lewis, Ward 2, Irvington, Irvington Town, Essex, New Jersey, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 7-174B, sheet 4B, line 49, family 95, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790–2007, RG 29. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2334.</ref> Reports about his birth name are conflicting; in Lewis' 1982 autobiography, he claimed his birth name was Joseph, after his maternal grandfather, but his [[birth certificate]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/09/books/funny-bones.html|title=Funny Bones|last=Sragow|first=Michael|date=June 9, 1996|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 8, 2019|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708194013/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/09/books/funny-bones.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=King of Comedy: The Life and Art of Jerry Lewis|last=Levy|first=Shawn |publisher=St. Martin's Press|year=1997|isbn=978-0312168780}}{{page needed|date=February 2023}}</ref> the [[1930 United States Census|1930 U. S. Census]], and the [[1940 United States Census|1940 U. S. Census]] all named him as Jerome.<ref name="Kehr"/><ref name="auto"/><ref>[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4DR-VZL "United States Census, 1930", database with images, ''FamilySearch'' (accessed July 3, 2019)]{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Daniel Lewis, Newark (Districts 1–250), Essex, New Jersey, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 149, sheet 13A, line 16, family 321, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1337; FHL microfilm 2,341,072.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jewishjournal.com/culture/lifestyle/obituaries/223511/obituary-jerry-lewis-comedian-filmmaker-dies-91/|title=Obituary: Jerry Lewis, comedian and filmmaker, dies at 91|last=Tugend|first=Tom|date=August 23, 2017|website=Jewish Journal|access-date=February 4, 2019|archive-date=February 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015632/https://jewishjournal.com/culture/lifestyle/obituaries/223511/obituary-jerry-lewis-comedian-filmmaker-dies-91/|url-status=live}}</ref> Reports about the hospital where he was born conflict as well; biographer [[Shawn Levy (writer)|Shawn Levy]] claims Lewis was born at Clinton Private Hospital and others report it as [[Newark Beth Israel Medical Center|Newark Beth Israel Hospital]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jerry Lewis' Early Years|date=August 30, 2017|website=Neatorama|url=https://www.neatorama.com/2017/08/30/Jerry-Lewis-Early-Years/|access-date=July 5, 2019|archive-date=July 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705133119/https://www.neatorama.com/2017/08/30/Jerry-Lewis-Early-Years/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=King of Comedy: The Life and Art Of Jerry Lewis |last=Levy|first=Shawn|publisher=St. Martin's Press|year=1997|isbn=978-0312168780}}{{page needed|date=February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Wiener|first=Robert|title=Newark natives recall antics of Jerry Lewis|url=http://njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/newark-natives-recall-antics-of-jerry-lewis/|website=njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com|access-date=July 5, 2019|archive-date=July 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705133126/https://njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/newark-natives-recall-antics-of-jerry-lewis/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Wiener|first=Robert|url=http://njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/the-beth-marks-110-years-as-newark-landmark/|title='The Beth' marks 110 years as Newark landmark|website=njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com|access-date=July 5, 2019|archive-date=July 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705133127/https://njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/the-beth-marks-110-years-as-newark-landmark/|url-status=live}}</ref> Other aspects of his early life conflict with accounts made by family members, burial records, and [[vital record]]s.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}

In his teenage years, Lewis was known for pulling pranks in his neighborhood, including sneaking into kitchens to steal fried chicken and pies. He was expelled from [[Weequahic High School]] in the ninth grade and dropped out of [[Irvington High School (New Jersey)|Irvington High School]] in the tenth grade.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiener |first=Robert |title=Newark natives recall antics of Jerry Lewis |url=http://njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/newark-natives-recall-antics-of-jerry-lewis/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US |archive-date=July 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705133126/https://njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/newark-natives-recall-antics-of-jerry-lewis/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lewis said that he ceased using the names Joseph and Joey as an adult to avoid being confused with [[Joe E. Lewis]] and [[Joe Louis]].<ref name="JLIP"/> By age 15, Lewis had developed his "Record Act", miming lyrics to songs while a phonograph played offstage.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/jerry-lewis?clip=36607#interview-clips |last=Denoff |first=Sam |date=October 27, 2000 |title=Jerry Lewis Interview Part 1 of 5 – TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews |medium=Interview |time=13:28 |work=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation]] |accessdate=February 15, 2021 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624064746/https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/jerry-lewis?clip=36607#interview-clips |url-status=live }}</ref> He landed a gig at a burlesque house in Buffalo, but his performance fell flat and he was unable to book any more shows.

To make ends meet, Lewis worked as a [[soda jerk]] and a theater usher for [[Suzanne Pleshette]]'s father, Gene Pleshette, at the [[Paramount Theatre (New York City)|Paramount Theatre]]<ref>Sources:
*{{cite AV media |url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/suzanne-pleshette?clip=chapter1#about |last=Abramson |first=Stephen J. |date=February 9, 2006 |title=Suzanne Pleshette Interview Part 1 of 5 – TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews |medium=Interview |work=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation]] |accessdate=February 15, 2021 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624055347/https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/suzanne-pleshette?clip=chapter1#about |url-status=live }}
*{{cite AV media |url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/suzanne-pleshette?clip=chapter2#interview-clips |last=Abramson |first=Stephen J. |date=February 9, 2006 |title=Suzanne Pleshette Interview Part 2 of 5 – TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews |medium=Interview |work=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation]] |accessdate=February 15, 2021 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624071048/https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/suzanne-pleshette?clip=chapter2#interview-clips |url-status=live }}
*{{cite AV media |url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/suzanne-pleshette?clip=chapter3#interview-clips |last=Abramson |first=Stephen J. |date=February 9, 2006 |title=Suzanne Pleshette Interview Part 3 of 5 – TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews |medium=Interview |work=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation]] |accessdate=February 15, 2021 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624062928/https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/suzanne-pleshette?clip=chapter3#interview-clips |url-status=live }}
*{{cite AV media |url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/suzanne-pleshette?clip=chapter4#interview-clips |last=Abramson |first=Stephen J. |date=February 9, 2006 |title=Suzanne Pleshette Interview Part 4 of 5 – TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews |medium=Interview |work=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation]] |accessdate=February 15, 2021 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624054845/https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/suzanne-pleshette?clip=chapter4#interview-clips |url-status=live }}
*{{cite AV media |url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/suzanne-pleshette?clip=chapter5#interview-clips |last=Abramson |first=Stephen J. |date=February 9, 2006 |title=Suzanne Pleshette Interview Part 5 of 5 – TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews |medium=Interview |work=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation]] |accessdate=February 15, 2021 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624070734/https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/suzanne-pleshette?clip=chapter5#interview-clips |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as at [[Capitol Theatre (New York City)|Loew's Capitol Theatre]], both in New York City.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=April 24, 1968|title=A 'Gala Closing' For Loew's Capitol|page=5}}</ref> A veteran burlesque comedian, Max Coleman, who had worked with Lewis' father years before, persuaded him to try again. Irving Kaye,<ref>Sources:
*{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/film-and-television-biographies/jerry-lewis|title=Jerry Lewis facts, information, pictures&nbsp;– Encyclopedia.com articles about Jerry Lewis|website=Encyclopedia|access-date=December 17, 2017|archive-date=December 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229112616/http://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/film-and-television-biographies/jerry-lewis|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|url= http://aln2.albumlinernotes.com/Just_Sings.html|title= Just Sings|work= aln2.albumlinernotes|publisher= Album liner notes}}{{Dead link|date=March 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vsTVCwAAQBAJ&q=Kaye&pg=PT263|title=King of Comedy: The Life and Art Of Jerry Lewis|first=Shawn|last=Levy|date=May 10, 2016|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=9781250122605|via=Google Books}}
*{{cite web |url= http://shutan.com/didyouknow.html |title= Did you know |website= Shutan |access-date= December 17, 2017 |archive-date= October 24, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171024005944/http://shutan.com/didyouknow.html |url-status= live }}</ref> a [[Borscht Belt]] comedian, saw Lewis' mime act at [[Brown's Hotel (Catskills)|Brown's Hotel]] in Loch Sheldrake, New York, the following summer, and the audience was so enthusiastic that Kaye became Lewis' manager and guardian for Borscht Belt appearances.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.pattersonandassociates.com/bios/Jerry_Lewis/ |title=Jerry Lewis|website= Patterson & associates |access-date= December 17, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171229112827/http://www.pattersonandassociates.com/bios/Jerry_Lewis/|archive-date=December 29, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> During [[World War II]], Lewis was rejected from military service because of a [[heart murmur]].<ref name="Lewis">{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Jerry |title=Dean and Me |page=173 |publisher=Three Rivers Press|year= 2006 |isbn= 978-0-76792087-2|url= https://archive.org/details/deanme00jerr}}</ref>